New Mexico requires a journal for every notarial act, including RON — with 10-year retention. RON journal entries must include the name of the RON provider used — a New Mexico-specific requirement. Education and exam are required for all notaries. NotaryAct is state-configured for New Mexico — all required fields on, including the RON provider field.
| ⚖️ New Mexico Notary Journal Law — Quick Reference | |
|---|---|
| Governing Law | NMSA 14-14A-18 (journal) · RULONA (Chapter 14, Article 14A) · NMAC 12.9.3 & 12.9.4 |
| Journal Required? | Yes — every notarial act ✓ |
| Attorney Exception | NM-licensed attorneys exempt when notarizing within established attorney-client relationship |
| Permitted Formats | Paper (bound, numbered pages) OR electronic (secure, recoverable, tamper-evident, PDF-accessible) |
| Retention Period | 10 years after last notarial act — regardless of notarial officer status |
| Lost / Stolen | Promptly notify the SOS |
| RON Extra Journal Requirement | Must record name of RON system provider for each RON act ✓ |
| Thumbprint / Fingerprint | Not required · Not prohibited · Optional in NotaryAct NM configuration |
| Surety Bond | $10,000 (surety bond or functional equivalent) · 4-year term |
| Education and Exam | Required for new applicants — mandatory SOS-approved course + exam ✓ |
| Max Traditional Fee | $5 per act (acknowledgment, jurat, oath) · Copy certification: 50¢/page (min $5) |
| Max RON Fee | $25 per remote notarial act · $75 RON authorization fee |
| Commission Term | 4 years · $30 application/renewal fee |
NMSA 14-14A-18 requires all New Mexico notarial officers to maintain a journal of every notarial act. The journal is retained for 10 years after the last entry regardless of the notarial officer’s status — the clock does not reset at commission renewal. New Mexico is a RULONA state, giving notaries a choice of paper or electronic format, with specific technical requirements for electronic journals.
The attorney exception is real but narrow: a notary who is also a New Mexico-licensed attorney may skip the journal requirement only for notarizations performed within an established attorney-client relationship. Any notarization outside that relationship — for a walk-in client, for an employer, or for the public — still requires a journal entry.
| 1 | Date and Time — Auto-timestamped by NotaryAct. |
| 2 | Description of Record and Type of Act — Document description and act type. NotaryAct dropdown covers all NM-authorized act types. |
| 3 | Full Name and Address of Each Individual — Auto-filled by NotaryAct’s barcode scanner from any New Mexico driver’s license. |
| 4 | Identity Verification Method — Personal knowledge statement; or description of method and credential including issuance and expiration dates; or credible witness details. NotaryAct supports all three. |
| 5 | Fee Charged — NotaryAct includes a fee field in every entry. |
| RON | RON System Provider Name NM-SPECIFIC — The name of the remote online notarization system provider used for each RON act. NotaryAct includes a dedicated provider field in the New Mexico RON configuration. |
✔ NotaryAct is state-configured for New Mexico: All required fields enabled including the RON provider name field unique to New Mexico. Electronic journal meets NM’s secure, recoverable, tamper-evident, PDF-accessible requirements. 10-year cloud retention. Fingerprint capture available as optional feature.
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NotaryAct is state-configured for New Mexico — all required fields enabled including the RON provider name field, secure electronic format meeting NM standards, and 10-year encrypted cloud retention. The right fields on from the first entry.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Information reflects NMSA Chapter 14, Article 14A and NMAC 12.9.3–12.9.4 as in effect June 2026. Consult the New Mexico Secretary of State at sos.nm.gov or qualified legal counsel for guidance specific to your situation.
